Electricity-meter.



No. 664,092. Patented Dec. l8, I900.

W. M. MOR DEY &. G. C. FRICKER.

ELECTRICITY METER.

(Application filedflct. 10, 1900.) 4N0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet m: norms PETERS PuoYo-umu, wAsr-umowm l7v cv No. 664,092. Patented Dec. l8, I900. w. m. monnzv & e. c. FRICKER.

ELECTRICITY METER.

(Application med on. 10, 1900. E (No Model.) 3 $heets$heet 2.

No. 664L092. Patented Dec. l8, I900;

.w. m. MORDEY a. a. c. FRICKER. ELECTRICITY METER.

(Application-filed Oct. 10, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

THE "cams PETERS cu, vnorau'mqfwnsnmc'mn. o. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE,

ENGLAND.

ELECTRICITY-METER.

SPECIFICATION forining part of Letters latent No. 664,092, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed October 10, 1900- Serial No. 32,614. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM MonRrs MORDEY and GUY CAREY FRICKER, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at the city of London, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented Improvements in Electricity-Meters, of which the following is a specification.

In the specification forming part of Letters- Patent No. 660,021, granted to us October 16, 1900, we have described an electricity-meter wherein an armature comprising a suitablyshaped piece or pieces of soft iron mounted on an arbor is arranged in a coil or windin (after the manner of a galvanometer-needle and its coil,) the armature and coil or Winding being so constructed and arranged in relation to a suitably-driven escapement that when the current to be measured (or a proportion thereof) passes through the coil or winding, the armature will, by the combined action of the current and of the escapement, be caused to oscillate across the magnetic lines of force at a rate proportional to the current, the said,

armature being prevented from being stopped by an overload or other cause while current is passing by short-circuiting or shunting the meter-coil or winding when the armature is in or near its central position and moving slowly, and when no current is passing being caused to take up a position of rest under the control of the escapement at or near one or other of the extreme positions of its stroke or throw.

Now the present invention has reference to further improvements in electricity-meters of the kind referred to, and has for its object to further simplify and cheapen the construction and improve the working of such meter; and it consists for these purposes in an improved construction and arrangement of armature, meter coil or winding and short-circuiting device, and in certain details of construction, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying illustrative drawings show, respectively, in front elevation, plan, and side elevation an electricity-meter of the kind referred to constructed according to this invention. Fig. 4 is a section thereof on the lines A A of Fig. 2,

and Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrams hereinafter referred to.

a is an ordinary train of clockwork driven atone end by a pair of spring-drums b, and

scribed and shown in our said former specification.

According to our present invention the oscillating armature n, which may comprise, as shown, a number of lengths of soft-iron wire mounted in or on a disk-like non-magnetic holder, as before, is fixed on the spindle Z between the two side frames A and B, the upper ends of which are connected together by two fixed distance-pieces O and D.

0 is the meter coil or winding, through which the current,or a proportion thereof,to be measured is caused to press. This coil or winding is arranged to surround only the upper portion of the armature n and is supported upon the top of the framework of the meter and above the clockwork and escapement and is held in position by suitable meansas, for example, by two bent strips 19 p, of brass or other suitable non-magnetic material, which are arranged diametrically at opposite sides of the armature n and are each fixed at one end to the adjacent distance-pieces O or D and have their free ends extending freely upward through the central opening in the coil or Winding 0. The strips 19 19 may, as shown, be arranged at such a distance apart that they will serve as carriers for two buffers or stops 19 19 of india-rubber or the like, against which pins n on the armature may abut, and thus limit the extent of oscillation of the armature, or the strips 19 10 may themselves serve as stops. As will be seen, the arrangement is such that the coil or winding 0, instead of being made in two halves fixed at opposite sides of an overhanging extension of the spindle Z, as in our previous construction of meter, is made single and simply droppedover the two strips or steady-pieces p p and allowed to rest on the top of the meter-framework. In this waythe construction of the meter is simplified, cheapened, and rendered more compact as compared with our other construction of meter. Furthermore, such construction admits of the use of a shorter armature-spindle Z than before, which increases the sensitiveness of the meter.

S is a counter of known construction and such as is commonly used on bicycles and which comprises a series of disks arranged side by side, bearing numerals on their periphery, and the first of which is driven by a spindle 15 from the clock-train a, the said counter being carried by a bracket 14, fixed to the front frame A.

The armature n is, as in our previous construction of meter, fixed in such a position on the spindle 1 that when no current is Howing through the meter the escapement, owing to the absence of a hair-spring or equivalent device, will hold it in one or other of its extreme positions, with the iron wires inclined to the magnetic axis of the surrounding coil or winding 0, the said coil or winding, when traversed by the current to be measured or a portion thereof, tending to move the said armature into its central position, and the said armature in consequence of its momentum being thereby caused, as before, to oscillate at a rate that is proportional to the current flowing through the coil for a sufficient range of current for practical requirements.

The short-circuiting device for temporarily short-circuiting the meter coil or winding 0 when the armature moves slowly through or is stopped in or near its central position and for thereby releasing the armature and allowing it to return to one or other of the extreme positions of its swing under the action of the escapement comprises, according to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, a light metal arm 1, that is arranged transversely to the spindle l, and is pivoted at 2 in a carrier 3, secured to the outer side of the side frame A above the counter S.

4 is a stirrup-shaped support fixed to the frame A and carrying the projecting end of the spindle Z. The part of the spindle Z across which the arm 1 extends is formed with a flattened surface l, (see Fig. 5,) that is at right angles to the axis of the coil or winding 0 when the armature n is in its mid-position. The arm 1 is provided with a movable contact 5, arranged above a fixed contact 6, which is carried by a strip 7, of insulating material, fixed to the side frame A. Secured to the said insulating strip '7 is the core 8 of an electromagnet, the winding 0 of which has one end connected to the fixed contact 6 and its other end to one end 0 of the meter coil or winding 0, the other end 0 of which is connected, as through a metal strip 10, Fig. 1, to the support 3, and thus with the arm 1.

11 is a second movable contact carried by or forming the armature of the electromagnet 8 9. It is connected to the free end of a movable carrier 12, the other end of which is supported by a pin 13, fixed to the insulating-strip 7 and electrically connected to the end 0 of the meter coil or windingo-as, for example, through the metal strip 10, Fig. 1. The carrier 12 may be a spring-metal blade, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or a pivoted metal bar, as in Fig. 5. Arranged opposite the movable contact 11 is a fixed contact 14, Fig. 5, which is connected to the end 0 of the meter coil or winding 0 and may, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, conveniently be formed by the iron core 8 of the electromagnet 8 9. The ends 0 0 of the meter coil or winding are connected to'the meter-terminals 15 and 16, Fig. 5. The arrangement is such that when the armature nis at eitherof its extreme side positions the arm 1 is supported, preferably, through an antifriction-roller 1 upon the cylindrical portion of the armature-spindle, the contact 5 being then raised above the contact 6. \Vhen the meter is in use and the armature n slowly approaches its mid-position or is stopped in its mid-position,'thc arm 1 or the roller 1 thereon is allowed, by reason of the flattened surface Z on the spindle, to drop slightly and allow the contact 5 to bear upon the contact 6. Current will then be shunted through the winding 9 of the electromagnet 8 9, the armature of which will consequently be operated and cause the contact 11 to bear against the contact 14, and so short-circuit the meter-winding 0, as well as the winding 9. The armature n is consequently released and caused to move to one or other of its side positions by the action of the escapement, whereby the contact 5 is moved from the contact 6 and the current allowed to again pass through the meterwinding 0 and cause the armature to start oif and again oscillate at the speed proper for the current at the time. When the armature is going at a moderate speed, the rapid repetition of impacts received by the arm 1 or its roller 1 from the armature-spindlel is sufficient to keep the arm 1 raised, so that electric connection between the contacts 5 and 6 is seldom made except when required.

\Vhen the meter is constructed to register only very small currents-say up to or about two or three amperesthe electromagnet S 9 and contacts 11 and It may be omitted and the contact 6- be connected direct to the end 0 of the meter coil or winding, as shown in Fig. 6, the short-circuiting device acting to temporarily short-circuit only the meter-winding 0.

What we claim is 1. In an electricity-meter of the kind referred to, the combination with a pivoted armature, means for mechanically imparting a forward impulse thereto as it approaches the mid-position of its stroke or throw in each direction, and a frame within which said armature and operating means are mounted, of a coil that is adapted to be traversed by the electric current, or a proportion thereof, to be measured, and is carried directly by and arranged opposite said frame and so as to surround a portion only of said armature, substantially as described.

2. In an electricity-meter of the kind herein referred to, the combination with the escapement mechanism of a clockwork movement carried by a suitable frame and a spindle arranged to be operated from said escapement, of an armature fixed upon said spindle above said escapement mechanism, and a coil adapted to be traversed by the current to be measured or a proportion thereof and arranged above said clockwork movement and so as to surround the upper portion only of said armature, substantially as described.

3. In an electricity-meter of the kind herein referred to, the combination with a clockwork movement, an escapement connected therewith, a spindle operated from said escapement, and a supporting-frame for said parts, of a disk-like armature fixed to said spindle above said escapement, a removable coil adapted to be traversed by the current to be measured, or a proportion thereof, and seated upon the top of said frame so as to surround the upper portion only of said armature and means for holding said coil horizontally, substantially as described.

4. In an electricity-meter of the kind herein referred to, the combination with the clockwork movement, an escapement connected therewith, a spindle operated from said escapement, and a supporting-frame for said parts, of a disk-like armature fixed to said spindle above said escapement, a coil adapted to be traversed by the current to be measured, or a proportion thereof, and seated upon the top of said frame so as to surround the upper portion only of said armature, and means extending through the opening in said coil so as to hold the latter in position horizontally and limit the extent of oscillation of said armature, substantially as described.

5. In an electricity-meter, the combination with a spring-operated clockwork movement Ct having an escapement c, anchor d, an escapement-lever g, a spindle l adapted to be actuated by said escapement lever, and a frame for supporting said parts, of an armature n comprising a number of lengths of iron wire mounted in a non-magnetic disk-like carrier fixed upon said spindle above said escapement and provided with one or more peripheral projections 07,, a coil 0 seated upon the top of said frame and arranged to surround the upper part of said armature, and oppositely-arranged strips 10, p fixed to the upper part of said frame, extending through the opening in said coil and provided with buffers or stops adapted to limit the oscillations of said armature, substantially as described.

6. In an electricity-meter of the kind herein referred to, the combination with an armature, a spindle carrying said armature and formed near one end with a flattened surface, means for mechanically imparting a forward impulse to said spindle and armature as the latter approaches the mid position of its stroke or throw in each direction, and aframe for carrying said parts, of a meter-coil carried by and arranged opposite said frame so as to surround a portion only of said armature, a pivoted arm mounted in bearings carried by said frame and arranged to extend across the flattened portion of said spindle, a movable contact operated by said arm and connected to one end of said coil, and a fixed contact carried by but insulated from said frame and connected to the other end of said coil and against which said movable contact can bear only when the armature is in or near its mid-position, substantially as described.

7. In an electricity-meter of the kind herein referred to, the combination with an armature, a spindle carrying said armature and formed near one end with a flattened surface, means for mechanicallyimparting a forward impulse to said spindle and armature as the latter approaches the mid position of its stroke or throw in each direction, and a frame for carrying said parts, of a meter-coil carried by and arranged opposite said frame so as to surround a portion only of said armature, a pivoted arm mounted in bearings carried by said frame, and arranged to extend across the flattened portion of said spindle, a movable contact operated by said arm and connected to one end of said coil, and afixed contact carried by but insulated from said frame and against which said movable contact can bear only when the armature is in or near its mid-position, an electromagnetic device carried by said frame and having one end of its winding connected to said fixed contact and its other end to the second end of the meter-coil, and a second movable contact arranged to be actuated by said electromagnetic device and to then connect the two ends of the meter-coil directly together, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

8. In an electricity-meter of the kind herein referred to, the combination with the escapement mechanism of a clockwork movement carried by a suitable frame and a spindle mounted in said frame, arranged to be operated by said escapement and having a flattened surface near one end, of an armature fixed upon said spindle above said escapement mechanism, a meter-coil arranged above said clockwork movement and so as to surround the upper portion only of said armature, an arm pivoted to a support on said frame and arranged to extend across the flattened end portion of said spindle, a movable contact adapted to be operated by said arm and connected to one end of said coil, and a fixed contact carried by but insulated from said frame and connected to the other end of said coil, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

9. In an electricity-meter of the kind herein referred to, the combination with a clockwork movement, an escapement connected therewith, a spindle operated from said escapement and having a flattened surface thereon near one end, and a supporting-frame for said parts, of a dislelike armature fixed to said spindle above said escapement, a meter-coil seated upon the top of said frame so as to surround the upper portion only of said armature, an arm that is pivoted to a support on one side of said frame and is arranged to extend across the flattened portion of said spindle, a movable contact carried by the free end of said arm and connected to one end of said meter coil or Winding, a fixed contact carried by but insulated from said frame, an electromagnet carried by said frame, provided with an armature and having one end of its winding connected to said fixed contact and its other end to the second end of the metercoil, and a second pair of movable and fixed contacts that are normally held apart and one of which is connected to one end of the meter-coil and the other of which is carried by or constitutes the armature of said electromagnet and is connected to the opposite end of the meter-coil and is adapted to bear against its adjacent fixed contact when said electromagnet is energized, substantially as described.

like armature n fixed upon said spindle above said escapement, a coil or winding a seated upon the top of said frame and arranged to surround the upper portion of said armature, a pivoted metal arm 1 extending across the flattened end portion of said spindle and car= ried by a support 3 fixed to one side of said frame, a movable contact 5 carried by said arm and connected therethrough to one end of said meter-coil, a fixed contact 6 carried by but insulated from said frame, an electromagnet 8 9 also carried by said frame and having one end of its winding connected to said contact 6 and its other end to the second end of the meter-coil, a movable contact 11 arranged to form the armature of said electromagnet and to bear against and form a contact with the core 8 of said electromagnet, a spring-arm 12 that normally holds said contact 12 away from said core, and electrical connections between said contact 11 and one end of the meter-coil and between the core 8 and the other end of said meter-coil, substantially as described.

Signed at 77 Cornhill, London, E. 0., England, this 28th day of September, 1900.

WILLIAM MORRIS MORDEY. GUY CAREY FRICKER. Witnesses:

PERCY E. MATTOCKS, EDMUND S. SNEWIN. 

